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- Scandola Marine Reserve (Réserve de Scandola) — A UNESCO biosphere tucked into brutal red cliffs and sea caves; only reachable by boat, it’s prime for spotting dolphins, seabirds and pristine underwater life while floating past basalt cliffs that glow in the sun.
- Calanques de Piana and the Gulf of Porto — Pink granite towers carved into fantastical shapes; short cliff walks and sunset viewpoints here are postcard-perfect and feel otherworldly without leaving the trailhead.
- Restonica Valley & Lakes (Melo and Capitellu) — Classic high-mountain scenery: granite cirques, crystal pools and tumbling streams. A half-day hike (or longer if you’re greedy) gets you to swimming spots framed by dramatic peaks.
- Aiguilles de Bavella (Bavella Needles) — Jagged spires rising from pine-scented ridges.
- Scandola Marine Reserve (Réserve de Scandola) — A UNESCO biosphere tucked into brutal red cliffs and sea caves; only reachable by boat, it’s prime for spotting dolphins, seabirds and pristine underwater life while floating past basalt cliffs that glow in the sun.
- Calanques de Piana and the Gulf of Porto — Pink granite towers carved into fantastical shapes; short cliff walks and sunset viewpoints here are postcard-perfect and feel otherworldly without leaving the trailhead.
- Restonica Valley & Lakes (Melo and Capitellu) — Classic high-mountain scenery: granite cirques, crystal pools and tumbling streams. A half-day hike (or longer if you’re greedy) gets you to swimming spots framed by dramatic peaks.
- Aiguilles de Bavella (Bavella Needles) — Jagged spires rising from pine-scented ridges. Trails range from easy viewpoints to scramble-y cols; the skyline here is one of Corsica’s most photographed and for good reason.
- GR20 and shorter trail networks (Mare e Monti segments) — The GR20 gets the hype (it’s tough), but you can sample spectacular sections as long day hikes. If you want alpine drama without committing to the whole thing, pick a sector and go.
- Agriates “Desert” and Saleccia Beach — Surprisingly pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise water behind a scrubby coastal plain. Reachable by boat or rough track; feels gloriously remote compared with crowded Riviera spots.
- Laricio pine forests, endemic wildlife and chestnut groves — The park is where Corsican specialties live: the pine-dominated mountain forests, chestnut landscapes, and species like mouflon and the island’s endemic nuthatch. It’s subtle biodiversity—look closely and you’ll be rewarded.
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Sea trips Scandola Girolata and Calanches de Piana
Visit Scandola, the creeks of Piana by boat
De Sagone/Cargèse: Scandola Girolata 2h Calanques Piana Swimming
Calanches de Piana and Scandola Reserve cruise with swimming stop
Sunset boat cruise with Aperitif at the Sanguinary Islands
Half Day Boat Trip to Scandola Calanche de Piana
4x4 Tour of South Corsica
Afternoon in Scandola and coves of Piana with stop in Girolata
"the inevitable" Visit Calanche De Piana
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.